The City's Backyard

Matt Zako

The City's Backyard with Matt Zako. A Podcast For New York City's Backyard or any city's backyard across the world! Covering Arts, Entertainment, music and the community! 

  1. The City's Backyard Ep 204 Hall of Fame Saxophonist CRISPIN CIOE (Rolling Stones Uptown Horns, B52's Love Shack, and sax solo on Living In AMERICA James Brown)drops by the backyard of New York City to talk about his music and role in different bands!

    APR 27

    The City's Backyard Ep 204 Hall of Fame Saxophonist CRISPIN CIOE (Rolling Stones Uptown Horns, B52's Love Shack, and sax solo on Living In AMERICA James Brown)drops by the backyard of New York City to talk about his music and role in different bands!

    Biography of Crispin Cioe Saxist/songwriter/producer Crispin Cioe has left an indelible imprint on American/ British roots and pop music, through his work as a soloist (viz. sax solos on James Brown’s “Living in America”, “Love & Money” by Bronski Beat, etc.), being a charter member of the esteemed Uptown Horns (recording/tours with icons like the Rolling Stones, Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Ray Charles, Ohio Players. . . ), music directing for TV (including “The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor” and “The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Songwriting, Live From The White House”), and by dint of a lifelong commitment to workin’ it hard every time he’s hit the stage playing tenor and/or alto, baritone and soprano saxophone. Writer and Musician Crispin studied creative writing and film at University of Michigan, then music/saxophone at Wayne State University and Berklee School of Music, after which, he hit the streets, eventually migrating to NYC.  For several years, Crispin split his time performing live/recording with a variety of artists (Duane Eddy, Carolyne Mas, Steve Forbert, James Montgomery Blues Band, Tom Rush, Geoff Muldaur) and doing music journalism/liner notes for such as Soho Weekly News, Playboy, High Fidelity, Prestige Records, The Detroit Free Press, and Musician Magazine. See Crispin perform Live with The Grateful Dead All Stars Saturday May 2  at The Westport VFW at 465 Riverside Ave, in Westport! The word is you may hear a couple of Stones tunes!  For tickets purchase here: https://ctdead.com/upcoming-shows

    35 min
  2. The City's Backyard Ep 199 ELIOT LEWIS ( Hall & Oates, Live From Daryl's House, Average White Band) talks about his Spring Tour with local stops in Norwalk and Westport, CT before going on the road across the country!

    MAR 24

    The City's Backyard Ep 199 ELIOT LEWIS ( Hall & Oates, Live From Daryl's House, Average White Band) talks about his Spring Tour with local stops in Norwalk and Westport, CT before going on the road across the country!

    Eliot Lewis spent almost 20 years with Hall & Oates and is always a blast to chat with as one our favorite regular guests on the podcast...he was also on the TV show Live From Daryl's House playing with some of top artists in the music industry.... and before all of that he was in the Average White Band!  Upcoming shows in the backyard of NYC: Eliot Lewis in concert at Factory Underground in Norwalk, CT with guests Owen Daniel and Ashley Jo. The show will also exhibit iconic music portraits by Norwalk artist Robert Abriola, including a portrait of Eliot Lewis to be auctioned off to raise money for music education. March 27, 2026. 5:30 Doors 6pm Cocktails 7pm Show $20 Eliot Lewis appearing Live at The Westport VFW Friday April 17th for an intimate show! Eliot Lewis - Multi-instrumentalist and solo artist, returns to Westport, CT for this very special performance that only cost $15 advance $20 at the door!  Eliot Lewis has performed with many of the biggest names in the music business including, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Train, Cheap Trick, Grace Potter, Ben Folds, Sammy Hagar, BlackBerry Smoke, Squeeze and many others. Eliot has appeared on every episode of Daryl Hall’s incredibly popular, "Live From Daryl's House” show all while keeping his own solo career going at a seemingly impossible pace. "Eliot is a musician who can do it all, great singer, songwriter and guitarist. He rocks and he's got soul. No one does it quite like him" - Daryl Hall Eliot’s show is truly unique and will find him moving from one instrument to another using live looping to seamlessly construct songs and arrangements on the spot and in the moment. If Eliot plays a cover song, it’s typically a song he’s performed with that artist. Not to be missed~ Purchase tickets below by clicking the ticketleap link!   https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/wwweliotlewiscom/eliot-lewis-live-in-westport-ct-1226107075?fbclid=IwY2xjawQuszpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsS0kwSHI2ajRTck10VWRqc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqwE78i1UWM7KtnZ_AftLQ6PhDXyczYEfuWCziBSrOTT0wblxUMCIcupafUi_aem_fWG2kYww_PL_YM3HfH8QAw

    31 min
  3. The City's Backyard Ep 198 OTIS plays more than Southern Rock with front man Lead singer/guitarist Boone Froggett who checks in  to talk about their new song called I'm Wicked! ZZtop's Billy Gibbons endorsed this band!

    MAR 16

    The City's Backyard Ep 198 OTIS plays more than Southern Rock with front man Lead singer/guitarist Boone Froggett who checks in to talk about their new song called I'm Wicked! ZZtop's Billy Gibbons endorsed this band!

    While it would be easy to categorize the work of OTIS as Southern Rock, being from Kentucky, their musical background is much broader. In addition to being guided by the classic rock giants of the 1960s and 70s era, the members of OTIS draw inspiration from true greats—people like Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, and the artists of Motown—to create their own unique rock and roll sound. With Boone Froggett on guitar and vocals, John Seeley on bass, Alex Wells on guitar, and Dale Myers on drums, the members of The Otis Band are staying connected to their Kentucky roots. Growing up around traditional instruments like piano, fiddle, and guitar instilled in them an appreciation for country-rock, bluegrass, gospel, and folk music. Kentucky's rich musical heritage led them to discover the Rock and Blues heroes that continue to influence the bands original material. After releasing Tough Times: A Tribute to John Brim,—Former Chess Records Blues Recording Artist— in 2014, OTIS joined Cleopatra Records in 2017, with the release of their second album Eyes of the Sun. A chance meeting with ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons led to the legend listening to Otis and becoming a fan—even handing their albums off to the likes of Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck! Four songs from Eyes of the Sun were also included in the soundtrack of the 2020 film Street Survivors. OTIS has a new track out called I'm Wicked part of a forthcoming album out sometime in 2026! For more on the band checkout their website!  https://theotisband.com

    17 min
4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The City's Backyard with Matt Zako. A Podcast For New York City's Backyard or any city's backyard across the world! Covering Arts, Entertainment, music and the community!